The Golden Zephyr's design comes from the Harry Traver Circle-Swing[2] rides of the early 20th century, specifically the Aerostat / Strat-O-Stat ride that operated at Riverview Park in Chicago. In designing the ride, Disney engineers visited Pleasure Beach in Blackpool, England to examine the Captive Flying Machines, a similar, but much larger, ride designed by Sir Hiram Maxim, and which has operated there since 1904.

The ride cannot operate at constant wind speeds over 10 miles per hour (16 km/h), or gusts over 15 miles per hour (24 km/h). Neither this attraction, nor Jumpin' Jellyfish were removed or changed as part of the billion-dollar expansion.